The Atkins Lady Red Devils gave the Russellville Lady Cyclones softball team all they wanted during Monday’s nonconference match-up before Russellville pulled away with a 3-0 win.

Russellville lacked head coach Harley Sisson, who was forced to sit out two games after being ejected from the Lady Cyclones 6-3 victory over the Conway Lady Wampus Cats.

“I’ll be glad when Sisson is back,” Russellville assistant head coach Mickey Duvall said. “It’s a whole lot easier over by first base. I don’t know how he stomachs this.”

Atkins, who holds the No.2 spot in the 3A-4, kept the game tied 0-0 until the bottom of the fifth inning when an error at first allowed Courtney Norman to score and set up Ashley Pizzolato’s two-RBI single that scored Kayla Sisco and Sydni Tolliver to set the final 3-0 tally.

“Everything we saw about them was that they’re aggressive and like to play small ball,” Duvall said. “Credit to our girls, they’re really coming on at the right time. When things aren’t going as easy as maybe they thought, I give them for credit for sticking in and getting the win.”

The Lady Red Devils attempted bunt after bunt, regardless of the strike count. Duvall said they expected that, but Atkins still managed a few base hits off the strategy.

“That’s their thing,” Duvall explained. “They like to play small ball, even with two strikes. Sometimes they can surprise a team going for a bunt with two strikes. Our girls looked a little like they haven’t been able to play because we’ve had so many games, but that’s their [Atkins] game no matter who they are playing.”

Russellville (13-6, 6-3 7A/6A-Central Conference) narrowly escaped falling behind in the top of the second when Atkins’ Jordan Wilson reached first on a hit, and then stole both second and third, but Lady Cyclones pitcher Andrea Kindrick struck out the next two batters to halt the progression and give Russellville their turn at bat. The Lady Red Devils returned the favor in the bottom of the second. Russellville managed to load the bases, but Atkins cut the Lady Cyclones off short from scoring. Kayla Sisco began by hitting a midfield single, and Haley Frost was walked and Sisco’s runner, Brooke Tarbox stole third . Pizzolato was walked to load the bases, but Wilson struck out Dianna Hale and Russellville’s Victoria Teague was tagged out on her way to first.

By the bottom of the fourth the teams remained locked in a stalemate. Kindrick, who totaled 16 strikeouts, kept the outs coming for the Lady Cyclones, and Atkins’ center fielder Bailey Thomas kept Russellville from moving runners around the diamond with three deep catches.

The Lady Cyclones will host Northside on Wednesday to resume conference play, while Atkins will host Danville on Thursday.